Slav Pioneers of SF

Che Slauonic Pinuvers
oft Galifornia

PuBLIsHED ON OccasION OF
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE, 1857-1932
OF THE

StAvonic MuTUAL AND BENEVOLENT
Society OF SAN FRANCISCO

Pa

Edited by
VJEKOSLAV MELER

Published by
THE Stavonic PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

102 Kansas Street, SAN FRANCISCO

[ee«aXx_—_ et
—— at

THE §

SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA 27

SUZZALLO, EMINENT EDUCATOR

By James Draaicevicu NESAN

Old Dubrovnik, mistakenly
known to the English-spe: iking
world under the Latinized
name of Ragusa, and rightly
known to history as “The
Athens of the Jugoslavs,” due
to the glorious ages of its aris-
tocratic republican history and
the immortal genius of its sons,
has also contributed greatly to
civilization as a whole in the
eminence of its sons in other
lands. One of this galaxy of
intellectual Knights of the Jugoslay Round Table
is the eminent American educator Dr. Henry Suz-
zallo, president of Carnegie Foundation.

From the old Jugoslav province of Hereegovina
(translated “The Dukedom”) the ancestors of Suz-
zallo moved into the suburbs of “The Pearl of the
Adriatie’—Dubrovnik. And their descendant Peter
Zucalo (pronounced “Zutsalo”) and his wife Anne,
like all Jugoslav emigrants, left the glorious land
of their Slavonic ancestry duc to the unfortunate
economic impoverishment produced in many local-
ities by the Teutonic military tyranny of the late
Austro-Hungarian monarchy and its historic anti-
Slay policies; all of which horrors are now past,
due to the destruction of the Austro-Hungarian
monarchy by the great Slavonic armies of Russia
and Serbia, and of their allies, assisted by the
Slavonic patriotic revolts within the late dual mon-
archy, which finally resulted in the reunification of
Jugoslavia on December 1, 1918.

Peter and his wife Anne Zucalo arrived in San
Jose, California, where their son Henry was born
on August 22, 1875. Here the beautiful Jugoslav
name of Zucalo, derived from the Slavonic noun
“arcalo”—signifying a mirror, abstractly meaning
“bright and reflective as a mirror’—was unfortu-
nately changed into the present “Suzzallo,” which
is a Latinized spelling of the name and robs the
noun of its splendid Slavonic individuality and
phonetic force. And it is doubly regrettable from
both the philologic and genetic senses in that its
true Slay abstraction is in perfect accord in signifi-
cance with Dr. Suzzallo’s eminent career as an
illustrious and great educator “bright and reflec-
live as a mirror” in the firmament of American
and world pedagogy.

The Stanford University class of the year 1899
was a notable one; for out of the beautiful Spanish
portals at Palo Alto, California, there issued—
Classmates Three!—now known to fame as Her-
bert Hoover. President of the United States of

America; Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur, president of
Stanford University and now on leave of absence
to hold the post of Seerctary of the Interior in
President Hoover’s Cabinet, and Dr. He ‘nry Suz-
zallo, former president of the Unive rsily of Wash-
ington in Seattle and now president of the world-
famed Carnegie Foundation.

My friendship with Dr. Suzzallo began prior to
the San Francisco catastrophe of the year 1906,
when as a small child I first met him in my late
father’s place of business on Bush between Powell
and Siockton streets in San Francisco, then a
known congenial place of general Slavonic gather-
ing, where he joined the warm and vigorous de-
bates on Jugoslay history, liberation and reunifica-
tion, much to my own childish enthusiasm and
education. I can easily recall his slow, measured
walking up Powell Street to Nob Hill on his way lo
teach at the old State Normal School on Powell
near Sacramento. streets, grecting me with
usual Slavonic warmth of “Dobro jutro, mali!”

The milestones of Suzzallo’s life in the followi ing
years up to 1915 alternated between teaching and
studying at various universities in the United States
and Canada and in the main were uneventful ex-
cept for the fact that he was laying the groundwork
for his future career. In the year 1915 he became
president of the University of Washington, at Seat-
tle, and in the twelve following years he first dem-
onstrated creative and administrative capacity of
a high order, winning in many respects distinction,
international recognition, and membership in nu-
merous governmental and institutional boards of
great importance which determine the destiny of
Americ: in institutions.

After America entered the great World War in
the year 1917, President Wilson appointed Suzzallo
to the National War Labor Board, and the War
Labor Policy Board.

When there was danger that hundreds of thou-
sands of American workers in the lumber and
other allied industries would be forced to resort to
violence in their united refusal to maintain the
twelve and fourteen-hour day during the great
war, imperiling the successful American conduct
of the war, Dr. Suzzallo headed the official inquiry
at the personal request of President Wilson.

Suzzallo’s parents were from “The Athens of the
Jugoslavs!"—the Dubrovnik of glorious Jugoslav
history and genius; and the great educator was
also bred in the true democratic spirit among Jugo-
slavs from the territory of the old aristocratic re-
public, then residing in his native San Jose and
later in San Francisco. He had often listened to

his

28 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

the magnificent intellectual history of the “nobili
Dubrovacki” in song and story. And among those
noble traditions was the fact that over five hundred
years prior, the ancient Jugoslav people of Kral-
jevic Marko represented by the Senate of Dubrovy-
nik had passed their Emancipation Proclamation
in the year 1416, being the first state in the world
to “abolish slavery forever!” And so, five centuries
later, the intellectual humanitarianism of old Du-
brovnik contributed its mental grandeur in the
person of its own son, Henry Suzzallo, to liberate
American lumber workers from serfdom! And this
act, due to the magnitude of the issue, was the
greatest single contribution to the industrial re-
form in the United States, which followed. South-
ern Europe, the glorious Mediterranean—that
mother region of civilization in all its essentials—
as ever continues to carry civilization to the north-
lands.

But the feudalism of the machine age dies hard.
The reactionary barons of the American North-
west never forgave Suzzallo for giving the millions
of American workers a real interest in the Declara-
tion of Independence and the bill of rights in the
American Constitution, aside from the meaningless
flag-waving in the public schools. In the year 1926
these feudal reactionaries succeeded in having
Governor Hartley of the State of Washington use
his influence with the trustees of the University of
Washington to fiercely force the resignation of
Suzzallo as president of that institution. And this,
after Suzzallo had taken the little backwoods col-
lege in hand and with twelve years of magnificent
creative genius had given that institution an inter-
national reputation as a great seat of learning!

The leading institutions and personalitics of
Amcrican life arose in protest against Governor
Hartley and his associates, and President Francis
G. Blair of the National Education Association
offered to the Washington State Teachers’ Associa-
tion the services of the N. E. A. to “save the state
and nation from an educational calamity by restor-
ing Dr. Suzzallo to the presidency of the univer-
sity.” The people of the State of Washington
organized to remove Hartley, and the press of
America voiced the indignation of the American
people. The occurrence served to center the ra-
diance of press and platform on Suzzallo, the
genius of education, and he quicted all organized

action to restore him to power at the University of
Washington by accepting the offer of the great
Carnegie Foundation to become their Visiting Pro-
fessor of International Relations in Europe.

After distinguished service in Europe, including
Jugoslavia, and later as a specialist in higher edu-
cation in the same institution, he was appointed
president of the Carnegie Foundation, in the year
1930, the highest post of its kind in America and
one of the greatest in the world.

The great interest of Suzzallo in his glorious
Jugoslav ancestry is demonstrated in many in-
stances, too numerous to mention, one of which is
his fine reception of Dr. Hinko Hinkovic, the
famous lawyer of Zagreb, Jugoslavia, who was
then the traveling representative of the historic
World War organization of Jugoslav exiled intel-
lectuals known as the Jugoslav Committee of Lon-
don. Under the auspices of Suzzallo, Dr. Hinkovic
delivered several notable addresses in English be-
fore prominent American organizations in Wash-
ington, on the justification of Jugoslav national
aims.

The first university in America, Harvard, was
organized in the year 1636, when its regents invited
the great Czechoslovak “Father of Modern Educa-
tion,” Jan Komenski (Comenius), to become the
first president of Harvard. Komenski declined, but
agrecd to organize the college and its curriculum
and preside over Harvard's destinies from Europe.
Through Harvard's influence Komenski’s genius in
collegiate organization dominates the policies of
every college and university in the United States
today. Another Slav genius, the Pole, General
Thaddeus Kosciusko, hero of the American Revo-
lutionary War, created West Point Military Acad-
emy after the close of the American Revolution,
and at the unanimous request of President George
Washington and the Continental Congress. And
now, following the great and illustrious Slavs—
Komenski, Kosciusko and others—who have illu-
mined the creative heavens of American education
and national destiny, comes the magnificent figure
and career of another Slav, Henry Suzzallo, with
the spirit of old Dubrovnik, Jugoslavia, to add an-
other immortal Slavonic star to the perpetuation
of the American commonwealth through creative
methods of education, on which basis rests the
destiny of civilization.

DUBROVNIK
A view from the south

,
during the celebration is full of magic colors and
profoundly touching scenes. At the dawning of the
day, in the morning breeze, you will witness the
procession of the pilgrims from Zupa and Brgat
approaching the city, flying their flags and accom-
panied by the discharge of guns. The scene re-
minds you of some celebrated painting by Rubens.
At Pile the pilgrims from Zupa meet the multitudes
arriving from Rijeka and the coast towns as far
west as Ston, and having saluted in unison with
their flags the ancient walls of the city, they enter
the richly decorated capital of the ancient republic.
The next performance is the flag salute in front of
the church of Saint Blaise, followed by a proces-
sion in which the relics of Saint Blaise are carried,
reciting the history of Dubrovnik, blessing the pil-
grims, conducting folk dances and discharging the
cannons. In the days of the republic this occasion
was used for pardoning the criminals, holding the
patriotic parades and reviews, celebrating peace
and reviving the old Slay customs. This was the
day of the glory for the chief magistrate of the city,
a moment when its citizens took stock of their
navy, of their wealth, of their great history and the
future prospects.”

This description gives us a general view of the
manner in which the Saint Blaise Day is celebrated
in Dubrovnik.

The celebration of Saint Blaise Day in San Fran-
cisco came about by accident. Five years ago some

A444) OLA YUINLU PAVUNEENAO UL

shasta Vatrracen

of the older members of our colony decided to give
an entertainment with a short program for the
benefit of our indigent citizens both in San Fran-
cisco and in the old country. Since most of those
who took interest in this matter came either from
Dubrovnik or its immediate vicinity, it was agreed
to hold this affair on the Sunday following the
Saint Blaise Day. Since no one anticipated a very
large attendance, we hired a small hall and did not
do much advertising. We did announce, however,
that we would have the old-country folk dances
and a lottery, as customary in Dubrovnik. We
urged our guests to attend, if possible, in national
costumes. To our great surprise, we had so many
people that the hall was not large enough to ac-
commodate them all.

The news of this celebration spread all over the
State, and the following year we had an even larger
attendance than the year before. Since that time,
the popularity of the Saint Blaise Day has grown
from year to year, so that today all our people in
California look upon it as an important national
affair. Gradually this celebration is assuming the
attributes of the performances as given in the an-
cient home town of Saint Blaise.

The clear proceeds of this affair are now being
distributed among the destitute Jugoslay families
in the San Francisco Bay cities. On the committee
for 1932 were the following: Anton Vukota, Vlaho
Mortigia, John Tomicich, Luka Bogdan, Anton Pe-
trusich, John Zec, Rade Dumarac, Steve Cvictusa.
Nick Vojvodich, Peter Bogdan, Matt Sriensich, An-
drew Butrica, Angelo Cantone, Bernard Markovich,
Jack Kurtela, Anton Simatovich, Har Spiletak, Jack
Markovich, John Skance Jr., Nick Medo, Nick San-
brailo, John Skance Sr., Marko Lucich, Paul Misich,
Matt Kurtela, Luka Buich, Charles Micich, Chris
Petrusich and Peter V. Knego.

I have endeavored in these few lines to give the
history of the Saint Blaise Day celebration, which
is now annually conducted by our people on the
Pacific coast, far away from our beloved Dubrov-
nik. May I hope that this brief description will
serve to create the interest in our American-born
generation for the homeland of their parents, and
especially for the glorious history 0
Republic of Ragusa?

! the ancient

32 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

REMINISCENCES

By Joun V. Tavicu
On the Occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the 8. M. B. S. of San Francisco

I arrived in San Francisco
in the year 1871 and made my
home with my uncle, Mr.
Nicholas Buja. His home was
on the west side of Davis
Street, north of Pacific Street,
and opposite his home were
the landing places of the Oak-
land Ferry, the Vallejo Ferry,
and the Sacramento River
steamers.

Soon after my arrival in
San Francisco I became a
member of the Slavonic Illyric Mutual Benevolent
Society. This Society held its meetings in a two-
story frame building, located on the east side of
Davis Street, north of Clay Street. The building
rested on wooden piles and during the high tides
the waters of the bay ebbed and flowed beneath
it. The lodge room of the Socicty occupied the
upper floor of the building and on the ground floor
was a ship chandler’s store. At that time Jerome
Suich was President of the Society, who retained
that office for many years. He was a leader among
the Slavic people—a native of Postire, Otok Brac,
Dalmatia, and a man of fine personality. In those
days this Society was the only one of its kind
among our people in San Francisco, or perhaps
on the Pacific Coast, and it was considered a high
honor to be its President. During the ten years of
my membership the following men were Presi-
dents of the Society: Jerome Suich, John Ivanko-
vich, John Uzovich, Steve Divisich, Domingo
Mengola and Kosto Crnogorcevich. These men re-
main vividly in my mind even after the lapse of
many years because they were men of sterling
character, respected by all their countrymen,
whether members of the Society or not. As a young
boy I often thought how happy it would make me
if I could become the President of the Slavonic
Society. During my membership the Socicty had
five Secretaries. Mr. Zvietich served as Secretary
prior to 1871 and during several terms thereafter.
Nikolas Maticevich and Marko Tomasevich also
served as Secretaries. I was Secretary from 1879
to 1882. Jerry Vragnizan succeeded me. From its
organization in 1857 until 1887 or 1888, the Sla-
vonic Society flourished financially and in mem-
bership. Our colony was small up to the year 1880.
Most of our men were of middle age and the ma-
jority of them were bachelors. The Slavonic So-
ciety was a friendly organization, often passing
the limit set by its by-laws to help stranded Jugo-

slay seafaring men who came into port on sailing
vessels and found themselves penniless. Many
times the Society fed, clothed and provided hos-
pital care for these poor sailors, just as though
they had been members of the Society in good
standing. The Society helped fellow Jugoslavs in
distress, took care of the sick and buried the dead.
In many cases, also, where a member was found
to be suffering from an incurable disease, the
Society would provide for his return to his native
land and make adequate provision for his perma-
nent support. In every respect the Society was
very generous in helping not only its members
but other Jugoslavs when in need. It was looked
upon as a board of relief for the Jugoslav colony
of San Francisco. Upon the death of a member
who left no family, his body would lie at the So-
ciety’s hall, with a guard of honor night and day
until the funeral, and funerals were uniformly
well attended.

A beautiful painting hung on the wall above the
President’s chair. It was a picture of a woman,
seated, with a face like a Madonna, surrounded
by three little children; written in the Slavonic
language were the words, “Majka Slovinska, sinovi
tvoji,” which meant in English, “Mother Slavia,
Thy sons.” The Jugoslav national colors, red,
white and blue, predominated in the picture. This
picture greatly impressed me at the first meeting
I attended.

Often the Society was referred to as “Mother
Slavia” by the people of our colony.

In course of time, the rank and file of the So-
ciety were men who came here on sailing vessels
around Cape Horn. They were the finest speci-
mens of youth from the Dalmatian Coast, the
eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. They were able
seamen of splendid physique, men of character,
courage and determination. This is not merely
my. personal judgment of those men, it is also the
judgment of R. W. Seton-Watson, the English his-
torian, who says in his “History of the Southern
Slav Question”: “The Dalmatians are one of the
finest seafaring races in Europe, and the cream
of the Austro-Hungarian navy is recruited from
among them.”

I cannot help feeling a touch of sadness as I
think of those splendid young men, because all
of them have passed away. They were the finest
specimens of manhood to be seen anywhere. Even
now I ean still see some of them in my vision,
Nicholas Buja, Florio Antonovich, Nikola Baro-
vich, Jerome Suich, Anton Koyacich, Domingo

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA 33

Mengola; the Marisch brothers, Prosper, Luka and
Anton; Captain Marini, John the
Vlautin brothers, Paul and Jakov; Domenik Vla-
hovich, Anton Riboli, John Uzovich, Steve Divisich,
John Pendo, John Pavlicevich, Frank Francisko-
vich, Nicholas Franicevich, Savo Spalatrin, Anton
Kovacevich, Savo Zlarin; the Ljubetich brothers,
Marko, John, Nikola and Anton; Kersto and Kosto
Crnogorcevich, John Milovich, Nicholas Ivanovich,
Maro Marinovich, Nikola and Joko Kosich, Marko
Tomasovich, Nicholas Maticevich, Dominik Pol-
jako, John Markovich, Nikola Pavlovich, Baldo
Bogisich, A. Splivalo; the Marietich brothers, An-
ton and Jakov; Roko Beban, Luka Zenovich, Peter
Zenovich, Zamaria Rasol and his brother John,
Nikola Sersen, Luka Gergurovich, Osip Vragnizan,
Petar Radovich, Kuzma Novak, John Mazanovich,
Marko Vulicevich, Kuzma Ruzevich, Blas Steta,
Ivan and Nikola Berbora, Bozo Radovich, Anton
Markovich, Andria Vujinovich, Marko Terkovich,
Arnesto Arnelio, Luka Kisich, Sticpo Jurat, Mihal
Matich, Marko Rabasa, ete.

The Society not only turned out for the funcrals
of deceased members but also participated in the
Fourth of July parades and in the annual picnic.
It was always a great pleasure to me to view the
Society in parade.

Ivankovich;

I remember particularly two men, Sam Zlarin
and Florio Antonovich, who alternately and for
years acted as marshals of all parades of the So-
ciety. They were both splendid looking men, over
six feet in height, erect, with a military bearing.
To me, they were ideal leaders. As they proudly
marched at the head of the Society through Mont-
gomery or Kearny Street in the annual picnic
parade, accompanied by the inspiring strains of
Jugoslavy music, they seemed to say, “Come on,
boys, follow us and we will drive everything for-
ward!”

The Society was organized on November 17th,
1857. It was the custom to celebrate with great
enthusiasm and good fellowship this birthday of
the Society by “Slovinska Vecera” (Slavic Sup-
per). On that occasion addresses were made,
praising the mission of the Society, its activities
and charitable deeds and promising even greater
things for the future. To me it was always a great
pleasure to listen to the old-timers. Each celebra-
tion was talked of among the members long after-
wards.

About 1887 or 1888 the Society moved from the
old hall on Davis Street to a new building, a very
fine hall and a big improvement—the Santa Maria
Building at No. 10 California Street, near Market.
About 1879, and while I was Secretary of the So-
ciety, a committee of which, as Secretary, I was
a member, was appointed to revise the by-laws

Sk,

NICHOLAS BUJA

Charter member of the Slavonic Mutual and
Benevolent Society

and select an appropriate seal for the Society. The
committee selected a seal with two interlocked
hands, with an eye above, the seal which is being
used up to the present day.

Up to that time there had been only one Secre-
tary, who acted both as Recording and Financial
Seerctary. His compensation was $50.00 per year.
Upon my suggestion the by-laws were changed to
provide for two Secretaries, a Recording and a
Financial Secretary, to serve for the compensation
of $25.00 per year each. Thereafter I served as
Recording Secretary until 1882.

The Society appointed a committee of two, Bozo
Radovich and myself, to buy a new set of books.
We purchased from Bancroft Whitney Company,
then on the south side of Market Street, west of
Third Street, a great register, a minute book, two
collection books and some stationery. The cost
was $25.00, quite a lot of money, as it seemed to
us in those days. It was my duty as Seeretary to
register the name of every member who had joined
the Slavonic Society from its organization in 1857,
to serve as a perpetual memorial. Not only the
names of members, but their nativity, age, and if
dead, the time and place and cause of death. Be-
lieve it or not, it was a big job for a little fellow
such as I was, to copy all that data from the old

34 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

and dilapidated books of the Society, written so
many years before in different handwritings. But
I was happy to do my share for Majka Slovinska
(Mother Slavia).

In 1879, there were over six hundred and fifty
names on the register. Many whose names were
registered were living in various parts of Cali-
fornia, especially in the mining districts, but the
majority of living members were in San Francisco.

Most of the members of our Society were plain
people who lacked education but made up for that
lack with energy, with courage and with the de-
termination to succeed. Little by little they man-
aged to get into business of various kinds. We
have pioncers who conducted Jugoslav restaurants
all over California. We have pioneer Jugoslav ap-
ple growers throughout the Pajaro Valley, and
pioneer Jugoslav orchardists throughout the Santa
Clara Valley. The first time buhach, the insect
powder, was planted in California it was planted
by Milco brothers in Stockton. The Milco brothers
were Dalmatian Jugoslavs. Others engaged in the
retail and wholesale fruit business, in the retail
and wholesale liquor business and various other
activities.

I remember Nicholas Dabovich, John Ivanko-
vich, Marko Vulicevich and Nikola Trobok as
leading fruit merchants. Elia Chelovich was one
of the leading wholesale liquor merchants in San
Francisco. In carly days, wholesale liquor mer-
chants were very much respected, much more so
than they are now. :

The Zan brothers, whose family name was
Zaninovich, were natives of Starigrad, Dalmatia.
They were very intelligent business men and had
a broom factory on the east side of Davis Street,
between Clay and Washington Streets, even be-
fore I arrived in San Francisco. They later moved
to Portland, Oregon, and were pioncers of that
city, engaged in the wholesale business of brooms
and woodenware.

Among our people were several sea captains. I
still remember Captain Maro Marini from Du-
brovnik and Captain Vincent Politeo from my
native town of Starigrad. Captain Politeo was a
part owner of the bark “Spartan.” I remember
the vessel well. Captain John Silovich still lives
and may he be with us for a long time to come.
He is one of the best known bar pilots on the Pa-
cific Coast and is now retired on pension. He left
his native town, Split, Dalmatia, when he was
twelve years of age and came here around Cape
Horn as a boy. Being of progressive mind, cour-
age and determination, like all Dalmatian seafar-
ing people, young Silovich studied at a school of
navigation, and being already an able seaman, he
soon became a Master Mariner. Finally he became
a bar pilot and remained such until his retirement.

Recently, I had the pleasure of mecting him and
his good wife and lovely daughter at the home of
a friend. The Captain and I had a very interesting
chat about early days. His only regret is that his
seafaring days are ended. I can understand this,
as he is a typical Dalmatian mariner.

In the early days of the Society, Attorney A. D.
Splivalo was an active member. His father was a
native of Peljesac, Dalmatia, and, I am informed
on good authority, was a sea captain and came
around Cape Horn to San Francisco in 1832.

Another old-timer, whom I remember well, was
Dr. Vincent Gelcich, a native of Starigrad, Dal-
matia. He was a doctor in the Federal Army with
title of Colonel during the Civil War in the carly
sixties. After the war, he was a pioneer coroncr
of the city of Los Angeles, and he married a beau-
tiful lady of the wealthy Pico family of Southern
California.

The majority of our Jugoslay pioneers marricd
and settled down, built their homes, raised re-
spectable families and became good American
citizens. It is a wonderful achievement and a great
credit to them how well they did in a strange
country, without knowledge of the language and
without any skilled trade. They were plain people
but gifted with good common sense, courage, and
the determination to succeed. It was always their
aim to give to their children that which fortune
denicd to themselves, a good education in high
school and college. But, while we owe much to
the fine qualities of mind and character of our
people, we must always remember that we could
never have achieved what we have achieved but
for the glorious and free institutions of our adopted
country, the United States of America.

Thanks to the good God who gave us our energy
and steadfastness, our Society was prosperous for
many years. But, between 1880 and 1895, immi-
gration from southeastern Europe was very heavy;
and among the newcomers were many Jugoslavs,
subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These
newly arrived Slavs brought with them ideas
which reflected the effect of the disgraceful policy
of the Austro-Hungarian government, which is
expressed by the maxim, “Divide et impera” (Di-
vide and rule). The result was that in a short
time there sprang up a number of different soci-
cties in our small colony. This meant division of
national sentiment and was in direet opposition
to the principle upon which was founded the old
and honorable Slavonic Mutual and Benevolent
Socicty.

In course of time, the pioneer Society encoun-
tered heavy opposition and had to struggle very
hard for its very existence.

Tam well convinced that if it had not been for
a few loyal patriots from central Dalmatia and

THE SLAVONIG PIONEERS OF

CALIFORNIA 2:

SKYLINE OF SA

especially the faithful and steadfast sons of the
Island of Brac, who upheld the dignity of the So-
ciety always, there would be no longer any occa-
sion to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of
the Society. The credit and glory are due in great
measure to those loyal patriots. I do sincerely
hope that their loyalty toward the pioneer Socicty
is as well appreciated by our colony as it is by me.

I resigned from the Society in 1882 for the reason
that IT was going back to Europe and was uncer-
tain whether I should ever return to California.
My regret now is that I did not keep up my mem-
bership.

The evil policy adopted by the Austro-Hungar-
ian Government did immeasurable harm to the
Jugoslavs. Our people suffered from the domina-
tion of a ruling class, the nobility of Vienna and
Budapest. There was a time when we had virtu-
ally lost our national identity. It is unfortunate
that the Jugoslavs belong to two different churches,
the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Ortho-
dox Church, as a bitter feeling has arisen among
us because of this religious difference. Among this
people of the same race, same language, same cus-
toms and the same aspirations, why should there
be difference or division on account of difference
in religion? In view of this condition we are en-
titled to much eredit for what we have accom-
plished.

In this wonderful country where every man has

N FRANCISCO

a right to improve his condition in every respect,
we should have been far better off if, instead of
having so many different socictics, all aiming at
the same purpose, we had but one, our own
organization, the Slavonic Mutual Benevolent So-
ciety. This Society would then have been a rep-
resentative and strong organization, financially,
morally and fraternally. From the standpoint of
economy alone, it would be worth while consider-
ing the proposition of merging all of our Jugoslay
sociclies into one great organization. [| hold the
view that each citizen should vole according to his
own intelligence and his own conscience; never-
theless it would be more beneficial if our people
had a powerful organization or unit which could
defend our political rights if they were ever threat-
ened. An organization of this kind would give us
better recognition by City and State authorities.
As we are now, unorganized, we do not secure full
recognition as American citizens.

But, above all things, we should have a histor-
ical socicty which would promote the study of the
history of our race. [ feel certain that if my sug-
gestion in this regard could be realized, that it
would bring great unity and benefit and happiness
to our colony.

Just a word to explain how I came to know and
to hate the destructive policy of the Austro-Hun-
garian government to which I have referred. In
1872, while a young boy, I was working for John

36 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

BAND STAND, GOLDEN GATE PARK, SAN FRANCISCO

Milovich, a pioneer member of the SlavonicgMutual
Benevolent Society and an old time miner, an
American citizen of strong and independent Amer-
ican patriotism who was born in Montenegro, that
country from which so many great warriors have
come. In fact, John Milovich was known among
his friends as “Od Grahova Jovo, valjan junak
bio” (John of Grahovo, a real hero). Shortly, I
learned to my surprise that John Milovich be-
longed to the Orthodox Church and that he was
assumed crroncously to be a Greck. But how in
the world could he have been a Greek when he
came from Montenegro from whence came so
many good Jugoslavs? He was a lovable man, gen-
crous and very popular among those who knew
him. I worked for that man for over two years
and at all times after I left his employment I was
welcome at his home. I revere his memory to this
day.

While I was working for John Milovich I came
in contact with all the Orthodox Jugoslavs (Pravo-
slavni) in San Francisco, at that time, young and
old. They spoke the same Slavic language as |
spoke. I saw them and talked with them daily. I
heard them converse on different subjects, prin-
cipally on politics. I heard them sing the songs of
their national heroes; they sang of Kraljevic
Marko, Milos Obilic and others, all those songs
that were familiar to me, the songs I heard in my
native town, every day, when I was a boy. Natur-
ally, I felt at home among those people, and found
them to be just as fine people as the other people
of our nationality. They worshipped God in a dif-
ferent form, but that should make no difference
in friendship, and many of those men were my
friends. That friendship exists even to this day.

I have often heard those Pravoslavni speak with
sadness of the great loss of the Serbian Empire,
“Na Kosovo Polje” on the Plain of Kosovo. The
slogan of those people was “Hocemo Nase” (We

want that what belongs to us). Their patriotic
aspirations were imparted to me and I have often
thought what a great thing it would be if we, the
Jugoslavs, could have a united country of our own
instead of being the subjects of Austria-Hungary.
As a boy I made a solemn declaration to myself
that I would always try my best to tolerate and
respect the religion of every man and always
maintain and support the proposition that every
man has the right to worship the Almighty accord-
ing to his own conscience. To this day, I have tried
to follow this rule as best I could. If I could have
my wish, fanaticism and prejudice would be ban-
ished from the world. However, the harm and
injustice done by the Austro-Hungarian govern-
ment to the suffering Jugoslavs should never be
forgotten by our people. Austria-Hungary enriched
herself at the expense of our people. Not satisfied
with depriving us of our liberty and property, the
propagandists of the Austro-Hungarian govern-
ment have persistently misrepresented and de-
famed our race. According to them we were
nothing more than a race of barbarians, incapable
of civilization. Yet, for centuries the Southern
Slavs fought the battles of Austria-Hungary
against the Turkish hordes, to protect and defend
Christianity for the rest of Europe, and at the very
time when other great Christian nations were en-
joying trade, peace, culture and happiness. It is
not to be wondered at that Jugoslavs, as a whole,
were, until recent days, backward in education,
trade and culture. Could anything better be ex-
pected from our war-torn and oppressed country
than poverty, sickness and misery?

In 1877, during the rebellion of Bosnia and Her-
cegovina against the Turkish rule, Christian Aus-
tria-Hungary worked under cover for the success
of the Turkish arms. Austria-Hungary was afraid
that if these two provinces were liberated from
Turkish rule, they would join with their brethren
of the Serbian kingdom. About that time the
great English statesman and very good friend
of the Southern Slavs, William Ewart Gladstone,
speaking before the English Parliament, said these
words: “Point me out with finger on the map of
Europe where ever did Austria do any good.”
Gladstone was a good friend of that outstanding
patriot, the celebrated Bishop Strossmayer of
Croatia, who founded the first Jugoslay university
at Zagreb, and was the evangelist of the idea of
uniting all the Southern Slavs into one nation.
You should read some of the correspondence be-
tween William Ewart Gladstone and Bishop
Strossmayer.

Austria-Hungary taxed the Jugoslavs almost to
destruction and gave them nothing to speak of in
return. She recruited thousands and thousands of
the finest flower of the youth of the Southern Slay

THE SLAVONIC

population to serve in her army and navy, and
what benefit did we derive from fighting the bat-
tles of that corrupted and decayed empire? T refer
you to the great speech delivered in the Austrian
Parliament on December 3, 1910, by the Jugoslay
patriot, Dr. Joseph Smodlaka, then a deputy from
Split, Dalmatia. In that speech you will find an
answer,

If a man who has thought much regarding the
condition of our race may be pardoned for a word
of suggestion and advice, I would urge that if we
must have various religions, at least let us follow
the Ten Commandments of God, in true Christian
spirit; let us tolerate and respect the religion of
one another; let us meet one another on an equal-
ity, irrespective of religion; let us grasp the right
hand of every Jugoslay with full confidence, and
depending on our strength of character, forget
fanaticism and prejudice. If we do this, there will
be more harmony, more unity and more happiness
in our colony. And what a great thing it would be
if our people in Europe would follow a similar
program!

Our brothers in Europe are surrounded by dan-
gers from which we in America are free. Jugo-
slavia occupies a very important position gceo-
graphically on the European continent, being on
the direct road to Constantinople and Asia Minor.
History tells us that from the time of the Roman
Empire and even to this day, it has been the aim
and goal of all the great nations of Europe to ob-
tain control of the Balkan country and especially
of Jugoslavia. During the centuries the Balkans
have been a checkerboard for European statesmen

PIONEERS OF

CALIFORNIA 37
to make their moves on. At the present time there
are powerful forces intriguing and working every
day in the year to destroy Jugoslavia if it be pos-
sible. Brothers, let us be on guard!

Twas asked by Mr. Anton Batchia, an old friend
of mine and for fifty years a member of the Sla-
vonic Mutual and Benevolent Society, to write
something about the old-timers connected with the
pioneer Society of which I was once a member. It
was hard for me to start; and it is still harder to
finish, because one avenue to the past always opens
another. While [am writing these lines, memory
is revived and past events are recalled as if they
were of yesterday. With it all, there is pleasure
mingled with some sadness. Sixty-one years ago
when I became a member of the Society, | was a
hopeful and ambitious young fellow. Now, I can
hardly realize how my life and the lives of my
old-time friends have slipped away in what seems
to be a short time. It seems almost like a dream.

As for the future, let us look forward to it full

hope. We live in a wonderful country, sur-
rounded by our friends and kindred. Each of us
must play his part in the game of life as best he
can and leave the rest in the hands of God.

In conclusion, [ take pleasure in congratulating
the officers and members of the Slavonic Mutual
Benevolent Socicty on their celebration of the Dia-
mond Jubilee of the Socicty. [I assure you, my
friends, that our colony in San Francisco appreci-
ates in full measure your good services and your
faithful guardianship of the destiny of your hon-
orable Society. May God grant you very prosper-
ous and long lives.

CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO

40 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

THE JUGOSLAV COLONY OF SAN FRANCISCO
ON MY ARRIVAL IN 1871

By John V. Tadich

On the twenty second day of May, in the year
1871, I left my mative town of Starigrad, in Dal-
matia, on the beautiful eastern coast of ihe Adria-
tic Sea. It was a day not to be forgotten, the birds
were singing and the flowers were in full bloom,
and I, about to depart for the promised !and, “Zlat-
na California”, the golden California, was happy be-
yond all description. Relations and neighbors came
to wish me good luck and God speed. But when it
came to parting from my dear mother I lost for the
time being the picture of beautiful California. Even
now, after all these years, I can remember clearly
her parting words: “Sinko moj, s Bogom, éuvaj svoj
zivct, i moli Boga za svoje zdravlje, imemoj zabora-
viti, Deset Zapovjedi Bozjih,” which means in En-
glish: “My son, God be with you, take care of your-
self, pray God for your health, and do not forget the
Ten Commandments of God.”

While I am writing these lines and thinking a-
bout my dear mother, my heart is like melting
spring snicw on the mountain. God blessed my par-
enlts with long lives as they were each about eighty-
five years of age when they passed away about fif-
teen years ago.

Bidding farewell to my mother, I started on my
long journey, my father and brother accompanying
me as far as Split. We had to go first to Mirce,
Otck Brac, to meet Lorenzo Nizetich, a pioneer min-
er of Sutter Creek, Amador County, California, who
was returning to California, and whom and whose
party my uncle, Nicholas Buja had advised me to
join. We arrived at the Nizetich home about noon-
time and found a good lunch prepared for us. I ne-
member well that after the lunch I went outside
like any young boy would do, to play with a group
of children in front of the church. The other boys
were strangers to me; but they all knew that I was
the boy who was going to California with Lorenzo
Nizetich. One of the boys came very close to me
and asked many questions about my trip to Califor-
nia and I recall that he said to me with sadness in
his voice: “Oh! I wish I could go with you.” Two
years afterwards that boy followed me to Califor-
nia. He was Lorenzo Slavich, the well-known pio-
neer restaurant man of Hollister and San Jose.

The following morning, Monday, we started for
Supetar where we met a party of four men, Anton
Petrinovich, Jerome Cereghino, Anton Ccreghino,
and tthe pioneer mining man of Sutter Creek, Ama-
dor County, California, Mr. John Kusanovich, and
his beautiful young bride, Mrs. Clementina Kusano-
wich. We were now a party of seven. We embarked

on the ferry beat to Split and spent a day or two at
Split, visiting friends. Then came the ordeal of
parting from my father and brother. It was little
less painful than parting from my mother. Finally
we got on an Austrian Lloyd boat for Trieste where
we stopped for some time seeing the sights. From
Trieste we took the train for Vienna. That ride to
Vienna was my first experience on a train and it
was all very fascinating to me. I have not ceased
to be thrilled by the whistle of a steam engine.

On arrival in Vienna, we found ourselves in a
magnificent railroad station. We spent aboult two
days in Vienna as there was much to see and we
wanted particularly to see the capital city of Franz
Jcseph, Emperor of Austria. An observation car
took us to all the different points of interest of that
historic city. I remember still the beautiful cathed-
ral of St. Stephen, built many centuries ago, and the
old royal palace with a beautiful square in front,
paved with white stones. Everywhere, I saw sold-
iers and officers of smart appearance, wearing glit-
tering uniforms. All this grandeur made a deep
impressicn on me. We visited the city park. It
was Sunday and we saw there the real life of the
people of Vienna. The park was filled with men,
women and children. There was music, dancing
and singing everywhere. Refreshments were dis-
pensed to everyone who was able and willing to buy.
It was a gay crowd and made a picture long to be
remembered.

From Vienna we took the train to Hamburg, by
way of Berlin. At that time, Berlin was not as
large a city as Vienna. Our train stopped at Berlin
for some time. This gave us an opportunity to see
a wonderful sight—the treat of a lifetime—the
sight of train after train loaded with soldiers return-
ing from Paris, jubilant and with smiling faces, re-
joicing over the victorious outcome of the Franco-
Prussian War of 1870.

Hamburg was at that time, as it is now, a very
important seaport of great commerce. From Ham-
burg we took the steamer across the channel to
Leeds, England. From Leeds, we went to Glasgow,
Scotland by train at sixty miles an hour — some
speed. We stayed at Glasgow for two days or so
until our ship was ready to leave for New York.

Finally, we boarded our boat the “Sindonia”.
She was an old type steamship: but to me at that
time she appeared to be a good strong boat, and, of
course, she was built of iron. After we were out
on the ocean about the fifth day her shaft broke
and she was disabled. For nearly two days the ship

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA A

remained stationary, until another ship sighted us
and taking our ship in tow, brought us back to Glas-
gow. We were forced t3 stay on shore for about
seven days until the boat was fixed. There was one
consolation, the Steamship company provided us
with a boarding house.

While we were in Glasgow, Suncay was a very
gloomy day. Everything was closed, no place for
strangers to go. The City looked as if it were in
mourning. It was a decided contrast between the
customs of the people in Glasgow and the customs
of the people in other cities on the European con-
tinent, as in the other cities there was much gaiety
on Sundays.

However, on week days Glasgow was thriving
industrial city. At that time it was built up solidly
with massive stone buildings, capable of lasting for
ages. I remember well that there were five or six
different bridges across the Clyde River.

After the boat was repaired we were ready to
proceed on our voyage to New York. The prospect
of the lcng ocean trip ahead of us was not glamour-
ous as we were tired and veary. The men of the party
began to blame one another for routing by way of
Glasgow, and I have never ceased to wonder why
we did come by way of Glasgow. Thirty five days
had passed since we left Supetar on the 23rd of May
and here we were only leaving Glasgow when we
should have been at our destination. For myself, I
had been homesick ever since I left my mother and
I had lost interest in California and everything else.
But when I was feeling most downcast, that lovely
lady, Mrs. Kusanovich, came to me and extended her
sympathy saying, “Courage my boy. Let us hope
that everything will be all right when we get to our
destination.” By this time I had come to know her
very well. The more I knew her the better I liked
her. My memory of Mrs. Kusanovich is so vivid and
lasting that I shall always have a very pleasant
thought of her. She was the sunshine of the party,
gifted with a beautiful natural voice, and she was
always ready to sing and thus make everybody hap-
py around her.

But at last the happy moment came when we
sighted the American ccntinent. Then there was
much joy. When our ship approached New York,
the American Flag went up to the masthead. I
stood gazing at the flag intently for some time. It
thrilled me with its beauty. A cheerful flag with
its combination of lively colors, red, white and blue,
its stars in the upper corner, a symbolic flag of the
great republic of the United States of America.
Then the band began to play various American nat-
ional airs; and the sight before my eyes of the
wonderful city of New York filled me with pride
and ambition and gave me the first feeling of cour-

age and hope which I had felt. since I left my home
and my people.

We spent two days in New York locking over
the City, resting and refreshing ourszlves and visit-
ing friends. It was now forty eight days since we
had left home.

From New York we traveled on the railroad by
way of Chicago, Burlington and Council Bluffs. I
remember that there were no dwelling houses at
Council Bluffs at that time, just a litle shanty for
the railroad station. We crossed the Missouri River
on a shaky wooden bridge. Omaha, too, was a small
city. From Omaha to Sacramento we were side
tracking the greater part of the time in order to al-
low the eastbound trains to pass. Much time was
also consumed in taking on water and coal for the
engine. The train traveled so slowly that the men
of the party were becoming impatient. They were
anxious to reach California as quickly as possible
and start to work ; because, with the exception of Lo.
renzo Nizetich, they were all married men with fa-
milies left in the old country. For my part I felt more
cheerful at this time than I did befora we reached
New York. I was cheered particularly when Mrs.
Kusanovich would sing the songs with which I was
familiar. We would join with her in the songs al-
though more in discord than in harmony. She al-
way sang most beautifully when she didn’t have our
assistance.

To my young mind, it was a wonderful trip,
filled with much pleasure. I shall never forget the
beautiful scenery and I am happy that I had the
opportunity to see the country as it was then. I
can never sce again those wonderful sights under
the same conditions, and I feel it was a great privi-
lege to have traveled from Omaha through Ne-
braska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and on to Cali-
fornia in those days. The immense plains, the ma-
jestic Rocky MMountains, the picturesque Sierra Ne-
vada mountains and ,the romantic valleys of the
beautiful golden state of California, the numerous
Indians in their primitive costumes, ara always be-
fore me.

I recall now that whenever our train would stop
on a side track, hudreds of Indians and their
squaws, with papoos¢s on their backs, would gather
around the train. They were just as curious about
us as we were about them. Another interesting
thing to me was my first sight of a group of Chinese.
They were little men, with almond-shaped eyes.
They had on large sun hats and were repairing the
railroad bed. The sight cf Indians and the Chinese
made a lasting impression and I enjoy the recollect-
ion to this day.

On our arrival at Sacramento, the men in the
party and Mrs. Kusanovich left me and proceeded

42 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

to Sutter Creek, Amador County. I traveled alone
to San Francisco to my uncle, Nicholas Buja, at
whose home I arrived on the 22nd of July, 1871.

From the time I separated from my traveling
companions at Sacramento I have never sezn them
again with the exception of Mrs. ClementinaKusano-
vich. John Kusanovich died many years ago. in Sut-
ter Creek, and after his death, his widow, Mrs. Cle-
mentina Kusanovich, moved to San Francisco with
her large family of four boys and four girls. With
her characteristic determination and her motto
“Courage and hope” she was able to raise a lovely
family. The dear cld lady passed away a fEw years
ago after having lived to a good old age. I shall
always revere her memory, God bless her.

To the best of my knowlsdge the six remaining
oldest survivors of the Jugoslav pioners are Mrs.
Angie Franicevich, who came hers in 1863, Mrs.
Floris Antonovich, who arrived in 1868, Nikola Ma-
risich in 1870, Captain John Silovich, Nikola Plan-
cich and myself.

If I had the slightest idea when I arrived here
in 1871 that I would te called upon sixty-one years
after to recall from memory the history of our co-
lony, I would most surely have kept some sort of a
record of our people. At this time I can only rely on
my memory bvt I will relate to you to the best of my
ability a brief history of some of these whom IJ found
residing here In 1871.

Repeatedly I would hear my uncle discuss Niciw
Orleans with his old-time friends. Be<ing of an‘in-
quisitive nature, I asked several of our people why
New Orleans was always the topic of conversation
among so many of cur men, and was informed that
the majority of our earliest pionsers in San Fran-
cisco came from New Orleans. When gold was dis-
covered in California in 1848, our people began to
come ‘to California rapidly. Califcrnia symbolized
Utopia. I then realized that some of my country-
men who were here in 1871 when I arrived very like-
ly came as early as 1850, and that the majority of
these men were the organizers and charter mem-
bers of the Slavonic Illyric Mutual Benevolent So-
ciety in 1857.

There were few Jugoslav families here in early
days. Most of the Jugzslav men were either bachel-
ors or married ‘to San Francisco girls, as in those
days it took a great deal of money to return to the
old country to marry a Jugoslav girl and bring her
to Calificrnia.

From all information I could gather the indi-
viduals listed below, who were then members of our
colony, were among the very earliest pioneers, who
came here between the years 1850 and 1865.

Nikola Buja, my uncle, arrived in San Fran-

cisco in 1851. He established himself in busi-

ress, together with Marko Ljubetich. He was a
Charter mzmber cf the Slavonic Illyric Mutual
Eenevolent Society, and also served as Vice-Presid-
ent of the Society. He was a member of the orga-
rization of Exempt Firemen of early days in San
Francisco. In 1864 he returned to his home, Stari-
grad, married there and brought his bride to San
Francisco, same year. From this marriage there
came a lovely family cf several boys and girls; those
living at this time are Mrs. Cora Maroevich, mother
cf the well-known attorney in our colony, Ivan Ma-
roevich, and Nicholas Maroevich, established in
business in San Anselmo; Mrs. Virginia Belding,
wife of the Superintendent of the Children’s Play-
ground, Gclden Gate Park, and Andrew Buja, Cus-
tom House broker.

Florio Antonovich, from Konavlje, arrived in San
Francisco in 1851 on the famous clipper ship, “The
Flying Cloud”, the ship that made the record time
from New York ts San Francisco around Cape Horn.
He was a member of the Tuolumne ‘society in 1853,
being one of the first settlers in'{fuolumne County.
He afterwards located in San Francisco and was a
Charter Member of the Slavonic Illyric Mutual Be-
nevolent Society. He was President of the Society
at one time. In 1868 he returned to his native coun-
try, and there he married a young lady from Bre-
secine, returned to San Francisco with his bride
same year, and brought into this world a lovely
family of children. He is survived by his widow,
Mrs. Flcrio Antonovich, daughter Mrs. Annie Ash-
ley, and two sons, William G. Antonovich, a well-
known atiorney in our colony, and Emile P.
Antonovich, Captain in the United States Army.
In 1882, Mrs. Nicholas Buja and Mrs. Florio An-
tonovich, were selected by the Slavonic Society to
raise money for the Society’s new banner, Majka
Slovinska (Mother Slavia). The presentation of the
banner to the Socicty was made by two young girls,
now married ladies, Mrs. Cora Maroevich and Mrs.
Antcinnette Forrest, in old Platt’s Hall, located on
Montgomery Street wh<re now stands the Mills
Building.

Nikola Dabovich, and his wife, from Boka. He
was in the wholesale fruit business. They had five
children, four beautiful daughters and one son. The
first baby girl was named Slovinka. This daughter
married Marko Simrak. The present Mrs. Joseph
Bilafer in our colony is a daughter oi this marriage
and a grand-daughter of Nikola Dabovich. The se-
cond daughter married Mr. Sargentich and I am in-
formed that she is living in New York.; the third
caughter marri:d Nikola Obradovich, resident of
San Francisco: the fourth daughter married Adam
Vercevich. The latter have both passed away, but
a charming daughter, now living with her Aunt,
Mrs. Nikola Obradovich, survives them.

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA 13

Joko Ilich and his wife, Sofija, from Boka. Jo-
ko Ilich passed away and his widow married Savo
Martinovich from Montenegro.

Zamaria Rasol and his wife, Luisa from Silba.
After his death his widow married Martin Zibilich
from Peljesac. She had two young brothers here,
Jchn and Anton Barbich. Anton Barbich became
President of the Slavonic Society about the year
1893.

John Rasol and his wife from Silba, had two
sons. The oldest son, John Rasol, better known as
John Russell was a very active member of the Aus

peed iS
s

a Some dae

into well-known Givovich family, returned to San
Francisco, and had large family of children. One
of his sons is Father Ivankovich, S. J., a member
of the Jesuit Order of Santa Clara College. I heard
Father Ivankovich render a beautiful eulogy at fu-
neral of dear friend of my family, Mrs. John Klecak,
and while I am not personally acquainted with Fath-
er Ivankovich his sincerity impressed me deeply.
John Ivankovich was President of the Slavonic So.
ciety for many years. He was a man of high per-
sonality and a leader in our colony. He was reputed
to be a man of considerable wealth. His residence

CITY HALL, SAN FRANCISCO

-trian Military Society and served that organization
as its President and Captain for many years. His
son, M. J. Russell, is at the present time
Assistant Superintendent of the Laguna Honda Re-
lief Home of the City and County of San Francisco.
Prospero Marisich and his wife from City of
Hvar, had a large family, four lovely daughters and
five sons. The family lived at Hvar until about
1876, with the exception of the father and the old-
est son, Nikola, who came here in about 1870. Not
long after his arrival here Mr. Marisich returned to
Hvar and brought this family to San Francisco.
John Grosetta and his wife from Dubrovnik.
Had two daughters.
Martin Grosetta and his wife from Dubrovnik.
No children. The Melatovich brothers, Vincent and
Anton from Dubrovnik were brothers of Mrs. Mar.
tin Grosetta and were among the early pioneers.
John Ivankovich from Lopud, wholesale fruit
merchant. Later he went to Dubrovnik, married

was at the southwest corner of Sacramento Street
and Van Ness Avenue, a very wealthy and select
residential district before the fire of 1906.

Anton Svainaz, better known as Anton Smith,
and his wife from Brac, was proprietor of the fam-
ous Rockway Oyster House on Market Street near
5th. He was a typical Dalmatian with an abundance

of energy. They had children. One of his sons is on
the stage, acting under the name of Anthony
Smythe.

Maro Marini, Sea Captain, and his wife, from
Dubrovnik. No children He was interested in whole-
sale liquor business with Jerome Suich.

Arresto Arnelio and his wife from Otok Vis.
No children. After the death of her husband, Mrs
Arnelio married John Herzo (early pioneer) a weal-
thy landowner.

John Herzo and his sister, from district of Du-
brovnik, arrived in early days. At that time he was
considered the wealthiest man in our colony.

44 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

BoZo and Lazar Radovich, brothers, from Risan.
Nephews of Ilia Chielovich. Bozo returned to the
old country and married into Patkovich family.
Came back to San Francisco and had children. He
was employed by his uncle until he went into busin-
ess for himself. He was a shrewd business man
very much Americanized, with some English ed-
ucation. It is my understanding that a son and
daughter are now living in Southern California.

Vitaich brothers from Brac. John returned to
the old country, married there and came back to San
Francisco with his wife, had children. John Vita-
ich, Jr. a son, is a well-known business man of San
Francisco. :

Nikola Franicevich, from Versnik near Stari-
grad, married Angie, a niece of Joko Ilich from Bo-
ka. Mrs. Franic:vich came here as a child with her
uncle in 1863. She is still in good health. Has two
grown sons.

Ilija Dabovich and his wife from Boka, had
large family of lovely girls and fine boys. The old-
est boy Steve was one of my boyhood chums, and a
fine fellow. Jovan, another son, and boyhood friend,
kecame Father Dabovich of the Orthodox Church.
About 1875 the oldest daughter, Ljuba married An-
dro Dabovich, of another family. George Dabovich,
prominent fruit commissioner, is a grandson of Mr.
and Mrs. Ilia Dabovich.

Nikola Marsich and his wife from Risan.
large family of children.
ess.

Had
In Wholesale fruit busin-

John Uzovich and wife from district of Dubrov-
nik.

Stiepo Divisich, brother of Mrs. John. Uzovich.
He returned to old country after many years, mar-
ried thera, and brought his wife to San Francisco.

Luka Zenovich, from Pastrovich, one of our
earliest pioneers in. California. A venerable gentle-
men. Everybody knew him as “Barba Luka” which
is a Dalmatian term for Uncle Luke. He owned
the property where he had a family liquor store,
northeast corner of Post and Jones Streets. The
business was conducted by his nephew, Peter Ze-
novich (pioncer) The store was the meeting place
of many of our people and they all enjoyed visiting
with Uncle Luke. To us all he was a noble Slav. He
had the bearing of ‘true nobility, a man of benign
face and gentle disposition, loved by all who knew
him. He passed away in 1895 at the age of 100
years. Filip Zenovich, a nephew of Uncle I.uke, was
a mining man who traveled throughout California
and Nevada. He is survived by three children. Mrs.
Giovanovich, a daughter, now living in Fresno, a son
Marko Zenovich, a business man of Fresno, and a
son Sam Zenovich, a San Francisco business man.

Jakov Mikulich, better known as Charlie, from

Senjska Rijeka (Fiume), was an employe of my un-
cle, Nicholas Buja. Jakov Mikulich was a_ good
fricnd to me and I can never forget nis kindness.
He took me to Lincoln Grammar Evening School,
and for this alone I shall always be grateful to his
memory. He would take me around the city to see
everything worthwhile, and with him I had my
first evening at a theater, the old Metropolitan
Theater on the west side of Montgomery Street be-
tween Jackson and Washington Streets. He was a
yourg koy when he came to America on a sailing
vessel, and as a young boy he enlisted in the United
States Navy, year 1860, during the Civil War. He
was areal American. He enjoyed life to the utmost,
was a stylish dresser and a great lover of race hor-
ses. He would tell me to “go around and see things”,
and that advice has been followed by me even to this
day. He subsequently had his own _ business,
was successful, and married an American girl. He
passed away about five years ago at the age of 85
years. We were good friends to the end of his days.
A son William Mikulich, well-known insurance brok-
‘x with offices in the Mills Building, survives him.

Sam Zlarin, better known as Sam Marion, from
Trogir, married a San Francisco girl and had family
of children. A son is an actor on the American
stage, and a daughter joined the Sisters of Mercy
order. Sam Zlarin was a typical Dalmatian Sokol
(1 like to apply the name Sokol to him as it expresses
my keen admiration of him). The Southern Slavs
apply the name Sokol (Falcon) to persons of ath-
letic and sporting activities, to courageous and brave
men, and without any exaggeration on my part Sam
Zlarin was all that. He was very popular among
his friends and a leader among leaders in the old
Slavonic Society, as well as among the Exempt Fire-
men of early days in San Francisco, of which he
was a member. He passed away about 1877; the
funeral being conducted by the Exempt Firemen’s
orgarization from their historical hall in Brenham
Place above Portsmouth Square, in front of the then
City Hall. The Slavonic Society attended in a body.
I recall it as being one of the largest funerals of any
of cur people. The streets were crowded with spec-
tators, as it was a beautiful sight to see the firemen
in full uniform, and hear the solemn music of the
band.

Marin Zaninovich, better known as Zan, from
Starigrad, had a broom factory before my time,
was married to a San Francisco, girl. With his
brcther Vincent, he conducted the broom business
under the name cf Zan Brothers. It was located on
east side of Davis Street, ketween Washington and
Clay Streets. They later moved to Portland, Oregon
and were pioneers there in that business. They
were excellent business men and consequently were
very prosperous. Marin Zaninovich had a large fa-

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

mily of children. One of his sons is a prominent
Portland physician.

Vincent Zan from Starigrad. He later return-
ed to his native town and married into the Garbati
family. Their daughter, now Mrs. Marie Maronich
is a resident of San Francisco.

Andrew Ljubich, better known as Andrew Glo-
ver, from Starigrad, married a San Francisco girl
and had large family. He was on the San Francis-
co Police Force for many years and he later became
Interpreter of Slavic, Italian and Portuguese lan-
guages in the Police Court.

45

Ilia Chielovich from Risan, married a San Fran-
cisco girl. His daughter, a talented woman, married
to Dr Fortell, a prominent Physician of San Fran-
cisco. Ilia Chielovich was in the wholesale liquor
businzss and was a man of exceptional ability. Bozo
and Lazar Radovich, nephews of Mr. Chielovich,
were both successful in their lines of business, both
having had the advantage of their uncle’s training.

Ivan Markovich from city of Hvar, pioneer
miner. John and Anton Markovich from Starigrad,
were his nephews.

Mr. Politeo, Sea Captain, from Starigrad, mar-

—iies——

UNARD LINE

maizer Us>zcn

By Courtesy of Mr. Gabriel Moulin.

MARKET STREET, THE MAIN ARTERY OF SAN FRANCISCO

Frank Franciskovich from
married to San Francisco girl.

John Pavlicevich from Boka, married San Fran-
cisco girl.

Trifone Bralich from Kotor, married San Fran-
cisco girl. Had large family.

Peter and Nikola Budrovich, brothers from
Starigrad. Peter married an English girl, and rais-
ed a large family of children.

Anton Kovacevich from Starigrad, married San
Francisco girl. His daughter Kate married M. Da-
bovich, now nesident of Richmond, Contra Costa
County.

Senjska Rijeka,

ried a San Francisco girl and had children, one
daughter and two sons. One son, Matthew Politeo,
is a well-known architect in San Franciscc.
Nikola Fabris, from Starigrad, pion<cer
merchant in San Francisco City Market.
Vicko Deletis, from Starigrad, a fisherman.
Luka Sresovich from Lopud, married San Fran-
cisco girl. He was a nephew of John Ivankovich.
In his youth he was employed by his uncle, but later
became one of the best known fruit commissioners
in San Francisco. He is survived by a large family.
One of his daughters, Evelyn Sresovich Ware, is a
distinguished musician, and at this time, has the

fish

46 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

honor of being President of the Pacific Musical So-
ciety.

Paul Vlautin and brother Jakov from Konavlje.
Paul married a Portuguese girl. They had two
children, son and daughter. The daughter, at this
time is a Vocal Instructor.

Juraj Gjustianovich, better known as Guistin,
from Starigrad, pioneer miner.

Tadija Buja, my uncle, pioneer miner of North
San Juan, Nevada County, returned to his native
town, Starigrad.

Anten Gerkovich from Starigrad, restaurateur.

Peter Cukovich from Boka, proprietor of a li-
quor store. .

Nikola Trobok from Lopud. Dry and fresh fruit
broker.

Mihail Matich, from Hercegovina, a !iquor Mer-
chant.

Jlia Ceklich from Crna Gora, pioneer miner.

Petar Bokanovich, from Boka, a miner.

llia and Nikola Gregovich, brothers, from Pa-
strovich. Intelligent men and pioneer miners of
Nevada.

Luka Kisich from Boka, restaurant employee.

Marko Ljubisa from Pastrovich, pioneer miner
of Nevada, married San Francisco girl, had children.

Stiepo Jurat from Zlarin, fisherman.

Jerome Suich from Otok Brac. Wholesale li-
guor business. Married San Francisco girl. Had
children.

Martin Marinovich from Dubrovnik, liquor deal-
er, married sister of Mrs. Jerome Suich. I remem-
ber their daughter, Florence, as a most beautiful
child.

Domingo Mengola, from city of Hvar, married
a German girl, had children. His son George is a
prominent rice grower in California.

Luka Marisich, from City of Hvar, married a
German girl, Had children.

Anton Marisich, from city of Hvar, returned
to his native town, married and remained there.

Anton Rivoli from Split, partner in a restaurant
with Anton Gerkovich. Restaurant located north
side of Clay Street below Montgomery Street. Later
known as United States Restaurant under the own-
ership of Pike Brothers. This was sometime in 1880
The slogan was “three dishes for 25c, soup, entree,
desert and coffee.” Mr. Riboli married a San Fran-
cisco girl. They had a daughter who married Marko
Tasovac, and is a resident of San Francisco.

Marko Vuliéevich, from district of Dubrovnik,
partner in business with John Ivankovich. He was
a prosperous and prominent man, married a San
Francisco girl and had children. He was an extreme-
ly religious man, having an altar built in his home
for religious services.

John Svilovich, from Dubrovnik, bachelor. He

was a watchmaker on Mission Street. Was not well
known among our people on account of his retiring
disposition.

Bogdan Markovich, owned property in which
he conducted an exclusive saloon and billiard parlor
in the then select district of Jackson and Stockton
Streets, and his establishment was patrcnized by
men of San Francisco’s best people.

Anton Miloslavich and his wife, from Zupa. He
was a miner. Passed away in Oakland, at the
age of 95 years.

Baldo Bogisich from Konavlje, was an vutstand-
ing citizen. He conducted a restaurant on Broadway
and Seventh Streets in Oakland, which was at that
tima the heart of Oakland’s business section.

Roko Beban, married San Francisco girl. He
would have been a rarely proud father had he lived
to see the tremendous success of his son, George
Beban, on the American stage

Marko Misevich from Boka, pioneer miner, now
90 years of age, resident of Oakland.

Joka Zelaich from Boka, pioneer miner.

Todor Radoicich from Boka, was Custodian of
the Russian Orthodox Church. He was a brother
of Mrs. Ilia Dabovich.

George Beéer from Konavlje. He was better
known as George Baker. Married to Spanish girl.
Was an interpreter in Police Courts.

Luka Beéer from Konavlje, known as Luka Ba-
ker, was nephew of George Beéer.

Joseph Marino from Istria. Married a San Fran-
cisco girl. For many years he was foreman for the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Had large fami-
ly of children, all of whom are now residing in San
Francisco.

George and Spiro Jankovich, cousins, from Bo-
ka. Both engaged in restaurant business.

Nikola Sambuck, from city of Hvar, conected
with fish industry.

Kuzma Novak, from city of Hvar, likewise en-
gaged in fish industry.

Nikola Grego, from Brac, and his brother
George. They were successful apple packers. George
had a fine bass voice and was under contract for
several seasons in the chorus of the old Tivoli Opera
House.

John Lele, from Dubrovnik, in restaurant busi-
ness.

Marin Zitkovich, Sea Captain, better known as
Captain Martin Lich. From district of Dubrovnik.
Captain on one of Pope and Talbot Lumber Comp-
any’s boats for many years. Passed,away in 1913
at 94 years of age.

Captain John Bronzan and wife from Konavlije.
He was a bockeeper for Martin Drobaz.

Martin Drobaz, from Konavlje. Man of fine

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA 47

physique and personality. An impressive Slavic citi-
zen. His most charming, only daughter, Mrs. Mary
McGlade, is the well-known music teacher in the
San Francisco Public Schools.

Joko and Lazar Jovovich, brothers, from Boka.
Owners of Coffee shop on the northwest corner of
Jackson and Drum Streets. Fallowing their death
this Coffee Shop was conducted for many years by
their nephew, Spaso Jovovich.. Lazar Jovovich was

an active member of the First Serbian Benevolent
Society and served as its President for several terms.

Joko and Nikola Kosich from Boka, brothers.
Fruit packers.

Peter Catanich from Braé, pioneer miner, set-
tled as hotel proprietor at Livermore. His son, Pe-
ter Catanich, Jr. is living in San Francisco and is
associated with the McCarthy Bros. Coffee Comp-
any. Mrs. Petar Catanich, Jr. is at the present Pres-
ident of the American Jugo-Slav Women’s Club.

Luka Gergurovich, from Dalmatia, active in

CHINATOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO

fishing industry; raised family of children.
are now residents of the East Bay district.

Spiro Obradovich from Boka, came to America
in 1858. He was in restaurant and laundry business
in San Francisco. Finally he settled in Fresno where
he is survived by his family.

A. D. Splivalo, Lawyer. I was informed that he
was born on his father’s ship en route from Chile,
South America, to San Francisco, his father being

They

SHANGHAI Le

Captain of the ship. Mr. Splivalo was an influential
citizen, a member of the State Senate for several
terms. His family is living in San Francisco at the
present time, and is of considerable prominence.

Dr. Vincent Gelcich.

Captain John Silovich.

Nikola Milko and his brother.

John Pendo, from Konavlje; bachelor and busi-
ness man.

Marko Tomasovich, from Dubrovnik, salesman
in wholesale fruit store.

48 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

Dominik Polgiaco from Brac, cook by trade, a
bachelor.

Nikola SerSen, from Mljet, restaurant business.
Married to a girl from his country.

Osip Vragnizan, from Starigrad. Returned to
his native city, married and s¢ttled there.

Peter Radovich, from Boka, business man and
bachelor.

Nikcla Pavlovich from Pastrovich; fruit busi-
ness, bachelor.

Marko Terkovich, from Konavlje; drayman for
wholesale fruit firm. Survived by a grandson, Mr.
Terkovich, who is well known in our colony here.

Jovan and Andrija Abramovich from Boka.
Both were active members on the First Serbian Be-
nevolent Society. It is my understanding that An-
drija is still living and makes his home in Fresno,
California.

Mr. Ruzevich from Starigrad, restaurant busi-
ness. He was known as “young foot” for the reason
that he was very lively on his feet around his rest-
aurant.

John Franetta from Pastrovich, married a Rus-

sian girl. He was connected with ‘the firm of Boll-
man & Company, Cigarette Manufacturers. He is
survived by two daughters, now living in Marin

County.

Michael Bregatta from LuSin. Restaurant busi-
ness.

John Kuze from Trogir. Restaurant business.

Petar Vojvodich, restaurant man, from Mljet.

John Tomicich, from Grablje, Otok Hvar. Left
San Francisco and established a restaurant in San
Bernardino, California.

Vladimir Cuda, from Budva, married Millie Il-
ich, daughter of Mrs. Sofia Martinovich, now resid-
ert of Sonoma County.

Nikola Koprivica, from Konavljz; drayman,
wholesale fruit business.

Martin Komaich, from Konavlje; drayman,
wholesale fruit business. Raised family.

Nikola Plancich, from Starigrad, connected

with Zan Brothers in broom factory.

Martin Kostina from Brac. Restaurant busi-
ness.

Mr. Ilich, from Dalmatia; restaurant business.
Later moved to Denver, Colorado, where he became
a very prospzrous businessman. An amusement
park in that City bears his name.

John Mazanovich and his wife from the city
of Hvar. Mr. Mazanovich was a musician in the
United States Army Band. They had two sons,
both of whom evidenced artistic talents. One son
painted the stage curtain for the Alcazar Theater,
before the fire of 1906.

George Lazarevich and his sister Mrs. Joly,
from Belgrade. George was an educated man, speak-
ing several languages fluently. He was a gallant
Serbian and very popular among his friends. His
sister, Mrs. Joly, raised two children, a son John
Jcly, well known fruit commissioner of San Fran-
cisco and a daughter, Mrs. Peter Vucanovich, also
a resident of San Francisco.

Nikola Antcnovich, brother of Fiorio Antonov-
ich, married San Francisco girl. Had family of
children. A daughter, Mrs George Mostahinich is
living in San Francisco.

Steve Milich, from Serbia: clerk in a depart-
ment store.

Frank Grassi, from Braé. Still alive and resid-
ent of Livermore, California. He has made his home
there for many years.

Nikola Rafaelovich, from Budva; criginal pro-
prietor of the famous Bay Oyster House, on Stockton
Street near Ellis Street. His sister married Sam
Zenovich.

I have given you all information available in
connection with the people I recall as having been
in San Francisco when I arrived. As to myself, af-
ter being here many years after my arrival in 1871,
I spent considerable time “going around and seeing
things” in compliance with the advice of my good
friend, Jakov Mikulich, and eventually I returned
to Europe where I remained for nearly nine months.
There I married the girl of my choice, Antoinette
Ivanisevich, a daughter of the well-known Ivanisev-
ich family of Starigrad. I returned to San Francis-
co with my bride, and we had three children, a seu
Danilo, and two daughters, Mabel and Ruby. Dani-
lo is married and is associated with the Shell Oil
Company; Mabel is a teacher in the San Francisco
Public School Department; Ruby is married and is
now Mrs. Herbert F. Suhr. She has a little son,
Herbert F. Suhr, Jr.

Early in the year 1872, subsequent to my arriv-
al, the following people appeared in our cclony:

Jasper Pavitza, from Kostrene. Years later
he married a San Francisco girl.

Anton Alduk, from Sibenik.

Amton Polgiaco, from Brac.

Spiro Franicevich, from Pastrovich.
went to his father in Reno, Nevada.

T<mo Sargentich, from Budva.
a daughter of Nikola Dabovich.

Mi¢éo Plamenac, from Crna Gora, a nephew of
Vojvoda Plamenac of Crna Gora. Mi¢o was a pio-
neer of Tonopah, Nevada.

Kersto Medovich, frcm Zadar; an educated man,
speaking several languages fluently, married a San
Francisco girl and raised a family.

Later he

Later married

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

Antonioli, from Budva. Married a
A son survives and is now an attorney

Kazimir
German girl.
in San -Jose.

While I was following my slogan “o around
and see things”, I went on different occasions to
San Jose and Virginia City.

At San Jose I met some of the old Califernians.
I remember Mr.Suzzalo, father of Dr. Henry Suzzalo,
the well known educator; Nikola Batinich, pioneer
miner, a cripple, but a good and hearty Dalniitian;
Marks Rabasa, an agriculturist; Vincent Milasich,
from Starigrad, and his German wife, formerly o£
San Francisco; Marko Ljubetich and his |vothers,
John, Nikola and Anton, from Braé.
oldest.

Marko was the
He was married to a Dalmatian girl and
they raised a lovely family. Ljubetich brothers
were the pioneer restaurant men in the Santa Clara
Valley.

At Virginia City, a wonderful mining center, I
met the three Vukovich brcthers, from Boka, Spiro,
Krsto Vukovich was married to a
girl from our country, and one of his daughters,
Mary, was born in Virginia City. This daughter
married Luka Zlokovich, and two of their children
are now residents cf San Francisco, Mrs. Vladimiv
Popovich and Rade Zlokovich. They are well known
in our colony. I also met at Virginia City two ne-
phews of the Vukovich brothers, Milo and Krsto
Vukovich. Spiro Vukcvich at that time was an out-
svanding figure and well-known business man
in Virginia City. Also there were Marko Kujnina
from Boka, in the butcher business; Mr. Vukanovich
and his nephew, Peter Vukanovich, from Hercegovi-
na. A few years later Peter moved to San Francis-
co, and was in the wholzsale fruit business with
Gecrge Beleney and John Ivankcvich. He married
Miss Elena Joly, and was an active member of the
First Serbian Benevolent Society, and served as its
President for several terms. His widow and son
survive him; John Radovich from Lepetane, who
later moved to San Francisco where he was a well
known business man, an active member of the Aus-
trian Military Mutual Benefit Society and served
as its President fcr several terms. He returned to
his native country and married a_ beautiful givl.
Breuctht her to San Francisco and they had one
daughtzr, now married to Dr. Clarence Sappington;
Mrs. John Radovich, his widow, is a_ resident
of San Francisez; Jefto Ivankovich, from Hercego-
vina, miner: Marko Milinovich, from Boka, pros-
perous liquor merchant and influential citizen; Mar-
ko Medina from Budva, mining operator, successful
business man. One of his daughters was educated

Krsto and Bozo.

49

SLOVINKA DABOVICH SIMRAK
The first child born in California of Jugoslav parents.

Born, San Francisco, 1860; died 1926.

at the Sisters’ of Mercy Convent of Dubrovnik. She
is now married tz Marko Zarich and is a resident of
Sacramento; John Gregovich from Pastrovich, mar-
ried to a French girl. He was a wealthy and influen-—
tial pioneer of Tonopah, Nevada; a member of the
State of Nevada Legislature for several terms. His
family is still living in Tonopah. While at Vir-
ginia City I was told that a great many of cur people
were scattered throughout the State of Nevada. A
few still come to my mind. Mandich family from Bo-
ka. Steve Mandich now a resident of San I'rancisco,
was born in Virginia City; Ilia Franicevich, father
of Spiro, from Pastrovich, was a property cwner and
liquor merchant of Reno, Nevada; Alex Drobnjak
from Risan, prosperous, and wealthy landowner of
Reno, Nevada, and owner of a large hotel cpposite
Southern Pacific Station, Reno. He is survived by
his family in Reno; Jefto Davidovich from Pastrov-
ich, Pioneer of Tonopah, Nevada; Mark Maina from
Budva, well-known restaurant proprietor in Sacra-
mento.

Jovan Novakovich, a pioneer miner of Nevada;
later a resident of Reno. He was a loyal friend of

50 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

Vidak Novakovich, a well-known resident of our co-
lony here. Mr. Gatcvich from Boka, a pioneer miner
and later a prosperous businessman of Silver Pick,
Nevada. His daughter, now a resident of Reno, Ne-
vada, survives him.

* oe *

In writing this brief history I have limited my-
self to the people of our colony who were here when
I arrived in July, 1871, and those who came here be-
tween July, 1871 and January, 1873. As stated

previously there is no record to refer to at this time,
and I am relying solely on my memory. Consequent-
ly if I have overlooked anyone, I am deeply sorry and
am asking that anyone not mentioned please commu-
nicate with the Editor, “The Slavonic Pioneers of
Calificrnia’’, 102 Kansas St., San Francisco, who will
gladly take care of the oversight.

San Francisco, California,
November, 1932.

JOHN V. TADICH

One of the Leading Jugoslav Pioneers of San Francisco
By J. L. Kerpan

John V. Tadich is a native of Starigrad on the
island of Hvar, Dalmatia, Jugoslavia, whose par-
ents, Vincent and Katherine Tadich, were well-
known people in their community. Mr. Tadich has
been a resident of San Francisco since 1871 and
for fifty years was one of the leading men in the
restaurant business of this city. He retired from
business in 1929.

Mr. Tadich marricd Antoinette Ivanisevich, a
member of a prominent family of his native town.
He is the father of three children, Danilo, Mabel
and Ruby. Danilo is occupying an official position
with the Shell Oil Company, Mabel is on the teach-
ing staff of the San Francisco Public School De-
partment and Ruby is married to Herbert F.
Suhr, Jr..a member of a prominent San Francisco
family.

Mr. Tadich is a conspicuous figure in the Ma-
sonic Fraternity, which he joined in 1885, and is
one of the most popular members of the San Fran-
cisco Commandery No. 41 of the Knights Templar.
He is also a member of the Jugoslay Sokol of San
Francisco.

STARIGRAD IN DALMATIA
The birthplace of Mr. Tadich

During the World War Mr. Tadich was presi-
dent of the local branch of the Croatian League
of America, which was organized with the object
of upholding the cause of the American govern-
ment and its European Allies in the World War,
and disseminating the idea of liberation and unity
of the southern Slavs. In this capacity Mr. Tadich
carried his fight for the Jugoslay cause to the
members of the United States Senate. and to Pres-
ident Wilson, Lloyd George and Clemenceau, who
were the principal factors at the Peace Confer-
ence in Paris.

In 1918 he organized the Jugoslay Relief Com-
mittee and acted as its Chairman. With his great
prestige among both the Jugoslavs and Americans
he was able to raise a substantial sum of moncy
for the war onphans of Jugoslavia. This contribu-
tion was forwarded to Dr. Anton Trumbich, the
then Foreign Minister of Jugoslavia, and graciously
acknowledged by him. Throughout the war Mr.
Tadich played a leading part in the activities of
the local Jugoslay colony in behalf of our war-torn
country. In that great crisis. as on many other
occasions before the war and since, he has demon-
strated his abiding loyalty to his people and the
country of his birth.

As one of our oldest living settlers and a man
of wide experience, Mr. Tadich knows more about
the history of San Francisco and its Jugoslay col-
ony than any living Jugoslay. Having been located
for sixty years in the heart of the city, he was
brought in close contact with all classes of people
and has made many personal friends. His restau-
rant was one of the landmarks of San Francisco
and was one among the few that the sponsors of
all great public affairs used to recommend to the
Visilors as a reliable cating place.

As Mr. Tadich states in his contributions to this
book, he did not keep any written records; but in

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA 51

the absence of such records we may safely rely on
his vivid recollection of the facts as he saw them
or as they were imparted to him by others. His
articles, both written from memory, will fully sub-
stantiate this statement. It is interesting to note
that while Mr. Tadich was engaged in business he
was often interviewed by the newspaper corre-
spondents whenever they wanted to obtain data on
the early history of the city.

In the Diamond Jubilee edition of the “San
Francisco News Letter.’ which was issued on
September 5, 1925, we find under the heading:

“Tadich’s Grill,” the following article:

“There are still landmarks in San Francisco, in
spite of the fire of 1906, but they are mostly human
landmarks, instead of buildings and monuments,
and very few are left at that. Such a one is John
V. Tadich, of the original ‘Cold Day Restaurant,
at 545 Clay Strect.

“A talk with Mr. Tadich is like turning back the
leaves of historical San Francisco; he can tell you
of the little tent, operating on the northwest corner
of Leidesdorff and Commercial Streets, prior to
1849, where coffee was served to sailors and their
kind; of a certain Captain Leidesdortl, who docked
his ship at this point, with its cargo of iron from
Belhouse & Co. of Manchester, England, and whose
crew deserted to go to the gold mines; of the small
coffee house tent being transformed by this cargo
into a corrugated iron house, which stood in this
spot until Mr. Tadich, in 1882, turned it into a real
restaurant.

“He spoke feelingly of the ‘old days’ when most
of the publishing houses and newspapers and jour-
nals were printed around this neighborhood; when
notable men and women writers congregated to
have dinner with him; and way, way back in the
days when customers paid as much as $1.00 for
one boiled egg.

“And then he told me how his cafe became ap-
pelated with the name: “The Cold Day Restaurant.’

“On the corner of Stockton and Geary there used
to stand the old ‘Wigwam,’ the headquarters of
the Republican party, many of whom were regular
patrons of Tadich’s Grill. Alexander Badlam, run-
ning on the Regular Republican ticket for assessor,
at his nomination spoke the words which were
later to become famous: ‘I thank you, gentlemen,’
he said, and then added: ‘It is a cold day when I
get left.”

“But when election came, it was a cold day for
Badlam, for John Seibe, the Independent-Repub-
lican, was elected.

JOHN V. TADICH

“Practical jokers literally impressed the cold
day on Mr. Badlam, by running huge slabs of ice
into his domicile, the night after election, wrapped
in horse blankets. The defeated candidate and his
friends sought consolation at Tadich’s (when con-
solation could be administered in liquid form),
and from that time on, the place was known as
‘The Cold Day Restaurant.’

“Above is given a present day menu of Tadich’s
Grill, in contrast with a menu of the Ward House,
printed in the days of *49.”

The published menu bears the date of Septem-
ber 5, 1925, and the top line reads: “Established

1849.”

At the risk of offending his innate modesty, the
writer can state, without the fear of contradiction,
that today Mr. Tadich is the most widely known
and most highly respected member of our San
Francisco colony. As one who does not seek either
praise or glory, Mr. Tadich seems to be entirely
unaware of that fact, but the writer feels sure that
all those who know Mr. Tadich, and their name is
legion, will subscribe to this statement without
qualification. And that achievement alone makes
life worth living.

May we enjoy his company and counsel for
many years to come!

52 THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

JUGOSLAV PIONEERS OF THE APPLE INDUSTRY
IN WATSONVILLE

By P. B. Martnovicu, M. D.

It was a balmy summer af-
ternoon, away back in 1870,
in a little village on the Adri-
atic, along the Dalmatian
coast. All the people of the
village were around, dressed
in their festive attire, chatting,
some laughing, some wiping
the tears trickling down their
| rugged :brows, and the chil-
=| dren were merrily playing in
the blue waters of the Adri-
atic, on the rock-ribbed shore.
A little boat not far away stood majestic as it
swaycd to and fro, awaiting peacefully in the sum-
mer breeze to sail on its daily voyage up the coast.
Soon the chatting had abated; the children stood
sill, and all that could be heard was the splash of
the water against the rocks, and out of this still-
ness and solitude a young man, rugged in stature,
tall and rangy, with a youthful smile, was seen to
clasp the hands of the villagers and bid them a
fond adieu. Slowly casing his way to the landing,
where the boat lay moored, there, as the twilight
enycloped the sun’s rays on a Jate summer's eve,
he stood motionless. Kissing and embracing his
Joved ones, bidding them a fond farewell. Then,
gazing upon those with whom he worked and
played as a lad in his teens, waving a sad good-
bye, stepped on the little boat just as the swish of
the water bade him bon voyage.

As he sat there in the stillness of the evening
shadows and watched the rippling waters go by
and the rugged shores of his native Dalmatia dis-
appear into morbid solitude of the darkness, he
muttered to himself unconsciously, “America.”

Across the barren wastes of the Atlantic to the
welcoming shores of America he sped. At the ap-
proach of the New World his anticipations rose
ever higher, as he had come to the land of promise
and dreams; so on he trekked from the eastern
shore over the rolling hills and dells of America’s
rising empire. Across to broad plateaus that sur-
round the Father of Waters, to the rugged hills
of the Rockies; over their palatial peaks, across
the burning sands of the desert; into cool, invig-
orating breezes of the balmy Pacific; into the land
where the sacred feet of the Padres tread. Down
the trail of the Padres he journeyed and finally
stopped in an “oasis,” which the few inhabitants,
as they bid him welcome, told him was Pajaro, or
the Valley of Birds.

As he sat down in the cool breeze of the carly
autumn evening, his mind wandered back once
more to those loved ones he left behind, and with
their parting sank into a peaceful sleep, dreaming
of the new home he had at last found. As the early
sun peeped over the surrounding hills he arose
and went out to see what this strange yet beautiful
garden had to offer. As he walked along he saw
acres upon acres planted in sugar beets, beans and
other vegetables, with here and there trees laden
with apples glistening in the sun as they seemed
to say: “This is the land of apples and fair
maidens!”

Then it was he made up his mind that the apple
was the eye of his heart. From farm to farm he
went, buying a tree here, a half a tree there, much
to the astonishment of the inhabitants. Buying all
they would sell him, he then rented a little shed,
bought a horse and a little wagon, and sct up a
sign and a rubber stamp bearing the following:
“Mark Rabasa, Apple Dealer.” Thus marked the
first man to go into the apple business in Watson-
ville, and he had come from far-off Jugoslavia to
pioneer an industry which today is known from
north to south, east to west, and throughout the
universe. He peddled his fruit to nearby towns
and some he sent to San Francisco, and much to
the surprise of the natives, made a little on his
investment.

After his first experience he was well satisfied,
but still he mused unto himself that nature hath
produced but wild. What could he do to help?
First, he thought if he pruned and took some of
the burden off the tree, he would produce better
quality and better fruit, and with that, if he tilled
the soil, also production would be benefited, which
he did. Well nigh were his efforts repaid.

As there were no modern implements of farming
in the late 70's, as there are now, this was a hard
task, but the sturdy farmer such as he was never
relinquished hope, and by hard labor and forti-
tude conquered, so much so that the inhabitants
around saw the dawn of a new era, new produc-
tion, new possibilities; and where ridicule was in
voguc, now saw the birth of a great industry and
began to plant orchards of apples. A few years
rolled by, then came Banovae and L. Sresovich to
help the sturdy warrior in his conquest of King
Apple. Later followed Lettunich, Miocevich, Geo.
Strazich, Marinovich and Scurich; they, too, went
into the apple business, buying here and there and
slowly but surcly success began to dawn upon their

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

brows. Packing houses began to be built, quality
of fruit assorted and wider markets opened up for
their production. But in the midst of all this an-
other difficulty arose to hamper the way of the
sturdy new pioneers. That was that their fruit
was being infested with worms and other pests.
Now, how and what could be done to help eradi-
cate this menace? Tilling of the soil and destruc-
tion of places wherein these insects laid their
larvae beds were destroyed, but still many more
were left to carry on their work of destruction.
Chemistry was brought into vogue. With the help
of State and National Departments of Agriculture,
chemicals were manufactured and were brought

53

houses, others put their apples there and kept them
two to three months after picking them, they were
further astonished at their keeping qualities. Why
keep them? This laid the foundation for cold stor-
age, to keep them not for a month or two but five
to six, in order to equalize the markets and bring
more revenue for their cffort, so as not to sacrifice
them on the altar of downtrodden markets.

Still more difficulties arose as to what they were
going to do with apples that were diseased and
barred from markets, and small ones not worthy
of shipping. Then came the idea of evaporated
apples or dried apples to take care of this depreci-
ation, which today in itself is a large industry.

APPLE ORCHARD IN BLOOM
Watsonville, California

into play in the process of spraying with certain
metallic poisons, such as arsenic, lead, zinc, ete.,
which proved a tremendous success in eradicating
the pestilence which so prevailed, and saved many
more apples.

As the years rolled by and competition in-
creased, these pioneers had to go out of the realm
of California to market their fruit; well nigh they
did, until in the early ‘90s England and the Conti-
nent knew of their endeavors. The natives mar-
veled at their fortitude, their work, and when in
the early 90s they saw in one shed a thousand
boxes of apples stacked up tier upon tier, still
more was their surprise that so many apples were
owned by one individual, and what he was going
to do with them. When later on, in the packing

iy

Then came with it the early twenticth century and
in ushered the Milladins, Cikuth & Miovich, Sto-
lichs, Kalich, Bachan, Butiers, Madeskos, Rilovich,
Sresovich, Resetars, Franichs, Katusich and many
others, and with them a modern era of civilization,
automobiles, gasoline engines, tractors, sorting
machines, trucks, spray machines, ete. That on-
slaught expedited the work of the horse and man
to a higher level of perfection, due to more mod-
ern tools to work with. Transportation became an
easier item. World markets were brought closer
with faster methods of labor, and soon the pack-
ing sheds congregated on the railroad itself, until
today this industry presents itself as a unification
of one packing shed next to the other, intermingled
with cold storages, dryers, etc., on a solid railroad

APPLE PICKING SEASON
Watsonville, Calif.

front, with the Jugoslavs as its pioneers, and still
developing it into an industry which takes fore-
most rank in this little valley on the shores of the
turbulent waters of Monterey Bay. They surround
us today with orchards of apples owned, and some
leased, by them. There are numberless packing
sheds with modern equipment, beautiful homes,
buildings; truly a tribute to the community they
so helped to build, and an honor to the sturdy
pioncers of the apple industry who brought it to
the front in years gone by.

How did they do it, those old sturdy pioneers?
Yes, how? Through perseverance and a do-or-die
spirit from carly sunrise to late sunset, winter,
summer, autumn and spring, always out upon na-
ture’s bosom, toiling, watching and_ persevering.
Nursing her in her infancy and never letting her
die until the spring blossom smiled upon their
endeavors and the yellow leaf of autumn fell off
to hide itself before the chilly blasts of winter.
Others laughed, scoffed maybe, at their endeavors,
ridiculed their methods, but today copy their ideas
and marvel what the human mind and physical
prowess had done to nature’s budding tree. Yes,
we can say that the Jugoslavs are the true pioneers
of the apple industry; truly, they found the tree
there, but in the same manner a hunter finds a
lion in his African den, so, too, they found the
apple tree.

As a hunter traps his prey and tames it, so did
they help with nature’s aid to tame this wilderness

THE SLAVONIC PIONEERS OF CALIFORNIA

until today anybody entering our beautiful valley
in blossom time sees a paradise of blossoms gently
swaying in the mild breeze of the Pacific.

Today, as old Mark Rabasa lies serene in the
veil of death on the little hillside surrounding this
garden spot, a beautiful smile peruses his lips as
he looks down upon his fellow Slavs still pursuing
in his same footsteps that he trod a half a century
ago. So also do the other sturdy pioneers, bent
low with age and hardships of years gone by.

Today, throughout the markets of the world,
Jugoslay names mark the boxes laden with the
delicious apples grown in our valley, and as they
eat them, cannot but think of what fortitude, gen-
tleness and hardships it took to nurse such a fruit
to a state of beauty and sweetness, wrapped up in
its little individual paper, to bring its rosy cheeks
to the lips of men and women throughout the
length and breadth of countless millions in this
world.

To these sturdy pioneers of Dalmatia’s rugged
coast who came here and stacked their lives and
all, that this industry may develop here to what
she is today upon this seventy-fifth anniversary of
our organization, we pay solemn tribute, and as
we now look around us and see what they laid
the foundation to, with our modern implements
and ways of doing, we wonder how it was pos-
sible, and well, too, may we wonder.

To these sturdy and rugged Jugoslavs of years
gone by, and to those new who followed in their
footsteps and made the apple industry what it is
today, and to their enterprises here today, we sce
an industry developed to the highest pitch of per-
fection, a true and fitting memorial to those who
staked all and made this part of our broad con-
tinent a Paradise of Eden.

In conclusion, in this melting pot of America
we can truly say that these rugged Jugoslavs
played their part in her history and today their
names dot the register of American citizenship as
good old pioneers of California’s apple industry,
and with it waved the true American banner of
success and fidelity to the flag that hovered over
the fields of daily toil and were found not wanting
when their country called, as true citizens were
they, and as rugged tillers of the soil. So today,
as many of them lie beneath and near the shade
of the majestic apple tree and smile at its growth,
the spirit hovers in its adopted land in true Amer-
ican democracy.